Kash Patel: Pro-Ram Mandir and anti-deep state warrior picked by Trump to lead FBI | World News

Yann Martel, the best-selling author of Life of Pi, once observed that just as the Bible and Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey form the cultural bedrock of Western civilisation, The Mahabharata and The Ramayana serve as the foundational epics of Indic civilisation. These texts, brimming with profound moral and philosophical insights, have shaped the consciousness of societies for millennia. While the ideological realms of these civilisations rarely intersect, Kash Patel’s rise to prominence under Donald Trump seems to herald a moment of unprecedented convergence—a theological and cultural singularity. Or what Rudyard Kipling called the ‘twains meeting.
Patel isn’t the only ABCD (America-born confident Desi) in the Trump team, which also includes Vivek Ramaswamy (whose Hinduism almost mimics Judeo-Christian pathos), Usha Vance (whose Hinduism helped her husband and VP-elect JD Vance find Christ again), and Tulsi Gabbard (who’s not of Indian origin but is the first Hindu to take the oath in the US Congress).
Patel’s nomination was met with the usual disdain and jubilation we’ve come to expect from Trump’s left-field picks. While Huffington Post (which famously covered Trump’s first US election campaign in the entertainment section) wrote “Trump Picks Nut for FBI”, pro-MAGA accounts on X celebrated Kash Patel’s nomination by sharing memes of the uber-hit RRR, showing the two protagonists destroying British legions with the caption: “Vivek and Kash Patel taking on the deep state”.

Incidentally, one of the protagonists in that video, based on the legendary Indian freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, is shown wearing saffron robes depicting him as Lord Rama, which makes the meme Inception-level because Patel is one of the few mainstream figures in American politics to speak positively about the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Patel’s Stand on the Ram Mandir and US Media Criticism

Patel’s outspoken support for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya places him at odds with mainstream American narratives about India. During the temple’s consecration, Western outlets like The New York Times and CNN criticised the event, portraying it as emblematic of rising Hindu nationalism. Patel fired back, accusing these media giants of focusing narrowly on the mosque demolition controversy while ignoring the site’s 500-year significance to Hindus. For Patel, the Ram Mandir is not merely a temple but a symbol of historical justice and cultural identity—values, he argues, are dismissed by a biased Western lens. It’s a view millions of Hindus hold across the world.
The Ram Mandir supporter is also a staunch advocate of Trump’s America First agenda and a fierce critic of the so-called deep state.
In the run-up to the 2024 election, Trump’s evangelical supporters have framed him as a divinely anointed figure—a “God’s warrior”. The narrative intensified following an assassination attempt Trump narrowly survived, which Matthew D. Taylor, a senior theological scholar, interprets as “the fulfilment of modern prophecy.” Critics, however, have often painted Trump’s administration as homogeneously Christian and anti-diverse. Patel’s prominence disrupts this narrative, adding complexity to Trump’s legacy.
Patel’s choice as FBI chief flies in the face of claims that Trump is a “Christian White Supremacist,” given that he has picked numerous other non-white minorities for his cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. For Trump, loyalty and alignment with his agenda consistently outweigh considerations of identity or orthodoxy. Patel’s unapologetic support for Indic cultural causes, combined with his commitment to Trump’s anti-establishment vision, made him a natural choice for the FBI role despite opposition from political and media elites.

Patel’s Career Trajectory

Patel’s career trajectory is as unconventional as his public persona. Beginning as a federal public defender and counterterrorism prosecutor, he rose to prominence as a key figure in dismantling the Russia investigation, co-authoring the controversial “Nunes Memo.” This document accused the FBI of politically motivated bias against Trump, cementing Patel’s role as a trusted ally in the fight against the so-called deep state. His critiques of systemic corruption and his assertion of a two-tiered justice system biased against conservatives have made him a polarising figure in Washington.

Views on India

Patel’s vocal admiration for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision for US-India relations reflect a unique cultural cross-pollination. Both Trump and Modi have been cast as populist disruptors challenging entrenched elites in their respective democracies. Patel embodies the overlap of their ideologies, advocating for technological collaboration, economic growth, and a shared fight against media and establishment bias. In fact, when Trump came to India for a mega-event in Ahmedabad, Patel was responsible for peppering his speech with references like Sachin Tendulkar and Vivekananda that would appeal to the Indian public.

Patel vs the Deep State

Kash Patel’s animosity toward the “deep state” is deeply rooted in his professional experiences and ideological beliefs. As a former federal prosecutor and senior government official, Patel has consistently confronted what he perceives as an entrenched bureaucracy operating beyond democratic oversight.
Patel first gained significant attention as a senior aide to Representative Devin Nunes on the House Intelligence Committee. In this role, he co-authored the “Nunes Memo,” which alleged that the FBI and Department of Justice misused surveillance powers to target Trump’s 2016 campaign, suggesting political bias within these institutions. This memo became a cornerstone for those arguing that elements within the government were working against the President’s interests.
His tenure in the Trump administration further solidified his stance. Serving in various capacities, including as a senior official at the National Security Council and later as Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense, Patel was involved in efforts to expose and counteract what he viewed as internal sabotage by unelected officials. He has been vocal about his belief that a “two-tiered system of justice” exists, favouring liberal elites while targeting conservatives.
Patel’s commitment to dismantling the deep state is also evident in his post-government endeavours. He authored Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy, a book that delves into his perspective on bureaucratic corruption and offers strategies to combat it. Additionally, he founded the “Fight With Kash” initiative, aimed at supporting whistleblowers and challenging perceived governmental overreach.